04/07/2010

Former Miramar, FL Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman has been convicted by a federal jury on extortion and bribery charges, and upon the return of the jury's verdict he was cuffed and remanded into custody as reported by Daniel Chang for The Miami Herald:

"Today's verdict . . . sends a loud and clear message to public officials everywhere that pay-to-play in Broward is over,'' Jeffrey H. Sloman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said from the courthouse steps in Fort Lauderdale. Salesman's conviction capped a sweeping public corruption probe of Broward's elected officials that netted former Broward Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, who was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison in March for money laundering, and ex-Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher, who pled guilty to bribery charges and will be sentenced in June.

Salesman is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, and he faces sixty years behind bars.